Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

Initial Posting Date:

06/08/2026

Application Deadline:

06/22/2026

Agency:

Judicial Department

Salary Range:

$7,042 - $8,152

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

Job Description:

Law Clerk for the Oregon Court of Appeals

Oregon Court of Appeals judges are hiring for post-graduate law clerk positions for an immediate hire – starting July/August 2026.  This is separate from the already posted annual Law Clerk recruitment for a starting date of August 2027.

The positions are full-time and limited duration, typically for a period of two years.  However, some judges may choose to hire clerks for only a one-year term, and a one-year option is available by joint agreement between the hiring judge and the clerk before the start of the clerkship.

Our Law Clerk Positions

Our law clerk positions provide a unique opportunity for law school graduates to both employ and improve their analytical, research, and writing skills, while working closely with judges, staff attorneys, and other staff to resolve all manner of cases that come before the courts.  Our work is complex, interesting, and ever-changing, and it is a critical component of our state's judicial branch operations. Law clerks participate in many different and important steps in the case-resolution process.

Oregon Court of Appeals

The Oregon Court of Appeals is our state's intermediate appellate court.  With the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court--most notably death penalty cases, ballot title cases, lawyer discipline matters, and tax court cases--the Court of Appeals reviews appeals on every subject from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies.  The Court has a high caseload compared to its number of judges and staff, which means that the Court's workload is very demanding. And for the vast majority of Oregon cases, it is the court of last resort. Because the Court of Appeals hears a wide variety of cases, you will gain familiarity and experience with many different areas of law.

The court has 13 judges and typically employs 22 to 24 law clerks at any given time.

Court of Appeals law clerks are generally hired to work with a particular judge.  While the exact role of a clerk will differ among chambers, most of your time will be spent researching, writing, reviewing, and editing.  Examples of common tasks for clerks include researching discrete legal issues, writing case-related legal memoranda, preparing bench memos prior to oral arguments, and preparing draft opinions. Clerks also are responsible for the final editing prior to publication for most of the court's decisions, which requires meticulous proofreading and cite checking.  Clerks can expect to discuss legal issues and draft opinions with their judge and can be called upon to work with their judge to critically examine the research and proposed outcome for a case. Judges on the Court of Appeals sit in three-judge panels, and clerks attend pre-and post-argument conferences where the judges share preliminary thoughts on the cases and arguments.  The Court of Appeals has a robust training program, so clerks can connect with peers across chambers as they learn how best to do the vital work of the Court.

In general, the judges are looking for law clerks who are skilled writers, critical thinkers, and who excel at legal research. Because clerks are closely involved in the resolution of cases, judges must be able to trust their work and their judgment, and that clerks will effectively and respectfully communicate differing views on legal analysis or outcomes to ensure that the judge has all the necessary information to make the correct decision.  It is also important for clerks to be able to respectfully engage with different viewpoints and positions, and to be open to changing their mind about an initial position. Law clerks are expected to handle and safeguard information that may be disturbing, controversial, or confidential, and the Court expects that clerks will uphold the highest standard of ethics. 

The law clerk role comes with many benefits, including opportunities to:

• Develop practical skills, such as researching, writing, editing, and exercising sound judgment;
• Gain familiarity with a variety of areas of procedural and substantive law, both state and federal;
• Hone the ability to efficiently learn new areas of law and manage multiple projects;
• Observe and learn from different styles of advocacy in briefs and oral arguments;
• Help resolve novel, complex, and important legal issues;
• Work closely with judges and other experienced legal experts with diverse legal backgrounds;
• Attend trainings and continuing legal education programs;
• Connect with members of the Oregon legal community; and
• Be part of a team committed to public service and access to justice for all.

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Our Mission

The mission of the Oregon judicial branch is to provide fair and accessible justice services that protect the rights of individuals, preserve community welfare, and inspire public confidence. As part of that mission, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive staff to reflect the diversity of the people we serve across the state.

Benefits and Working Conditions

• The annual salary ranges from $84,501 – 97,822.
• The position includes paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, as well as a benefits package with health insurance and participation, after six months' employment, in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.
• Law clerks who are members of the bar may also be eligible for bar dues payments up to the cost of bar dues for the Oregon State Bar.
• This is a full-time position, clerks are expected to work during the court’s business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is not eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked more than 40 per work week.
• You may be required to work outside those regular hours when necessary to meet deadlines or otherwise timely complete your work assignment.
• Law clerks are permitted to work remotely, but in varying degrees, depending on the needs of each court and the supervising judge. Any remote work schedule must be approved by the administrative authority for the court, and out-of-state remote work requires special authorization.
• Law clerks are expected to use standard office equipment, including an employer-provided computer.

Application Information and Instructions

Applications are completed online using Workday.  Some judges choose to provide additional information about work in their chambers; that information can be found here: Oregon Judicial Department: Law Clerk Opportunities: Going to Court

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school by the start of the clerkship.

To apply, you must submit a completed online Workday application, cover letter, resume, undergraduate and law school transcripts, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation.

• All submitted documents must be in an unprotected Adobe PDF format (no password if possible).
• Because you must submit a resume, you do not need to complete the work history section of the online Workday application.
• In your resume, please include your law school GPA and class rank.
• In your cover letter, please describe why you are interested in clerking for the Oregon Court of Appeals and how your experience has prepared you for the position.
• Your writing sample must be 10 pages or less (5-7 pages is preferred). Please choose a sample that contains legal analysis and, on a cover page, describe how, if at all, the sample was edited by others and how, if at all, generative artificial intelligence was used to prepare the sample.
• You may submit letters of recommendation as part of your electronic application, or your recommenders may submit them by email (preferred) or mail. Letters sent by your recommenders must be emailed or postmarked by the application deadline.  
• Emailed letters must be sent to [email protected] (this method is preferred). The subject line must read: "Law Clerk Recommendation for the Oregon Court of Appeals – Applicant’s First and Last Name"
• Mailed letters (postmarked no later than the deadline date) must be sent to:

                        Law Clerk Recommendation for the Oregon Court of Appeals – Applicant’s First and Last Name

                        Oregon Judicial Department (OJD)
Human Resource Services Division (HRSD)

                        1163 State St, Salem, OR 97301
 

            Our Human Resource Services Division will notify you by email before the application deadline if we have not received one or more of your letters of recommendation.

Interview Information

The Court of Appeals will have the option for virtual and in-person interviews.

Additional Information

Communication

We communicate with applicants via email, and your Workday account is tied to your email. We recommend that you use a permanent, personal email address, rather than a school or work address, on your Workday account.

Workday Timeout

Please be aware that Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity, which results in progress to that point being lost, if not saved. We recommend that you review the online application and gather all your required documents before starting the application and that you save your work frequently.

Age-Based Discrimination

OJD does not request or require your age, date of birth, or attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Veterans’ or Oregon National Guard Preference
Eligible veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking for documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers web page for additional details, information, and resources.

Reference Checks

By submitting your application to the Oregon Judicial Department, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.

Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

United States Employment Eligibility
The Oregon Judicial Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.

Pay Equity
The Oregon Judicial Department complies with Oregon’s pay equity laws. Salary offers are made with consideration of the applicant's education and post-law-graduation experience.
 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Oregon Judicial Department is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Future Vacancies
This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.

Questions and Support

• Workday related information and resources are available here.
• If you have questions about this posting, call 503-986-5930 or [email protected]
• If you require an alternative format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.

The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.